Water-proof cloak



(No Model.)

s. A. MENDEL.

WATER PROOF GLOAK.

No. 349,313. Patented Sept. 21, 1886.

invade N, PETERS. Plume-Lithographer, Wnshinglon. n. c.

U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SARAH A. 'MENDEL', or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WATER-PROOF CLOAK.

EPHCIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 349,313, dated September 21, 1886.

Application filed June 8,1886. Serial No. 204,459. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SARAH -A. MENDEL, a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in \VatenIroof Oloaks for Ladies Use, of which I do declare the fol lowing to be a full, clear, and exact descrip tion, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

A serious objection met with in the use of the ordinary water-proof cloak is that while it covers the outside of the skirts, it fails to proteet the bottom thereof, so that if the streets are muddy such portion of the skirts constantly drag upon the grond and are soiled. To overcome this objection it is customary to pin up the skirts, so that they will not extend below the water-proof cloak and will be lifted from the ground.

The object of my present invention is to provide a water-proof cloak of such construction that the soiling of the bottom of the skirts by contact with the muddy streets may be' avoided without the necessity of pinning up the skirts for such purpose.

To this end my invention consists, primarily, in the combination, with a water-proof cloak, of a pocket adapted to receive the lower portion of the skirt, and provided with suitable supports for the inner side of said pocket.

My invention also consists in combining with the water-proof cloak an open pocket adapted to'receive the bottom of the skirts and provided with suitable springs for sustaining the inner side of said pocket and clasping the bottom of the skirt.

My invention also consists in certain novel details of construction hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification. 1

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a womans figure having my improved cloak applied thereto, parts being broken away for the purpose of better illustration. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cloak partly opened. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of one of. the supports for the open pocket of the cloak. Fig. 4. is a similar View of a modified form of spring. Fig. 5 is a detail side view of a form of spring similar to that shown in Fig. 4, and being also shown in connection with the open pocket.

A designates the main body of the cloak, which may be of the usual or any suitable construction.

To the inner side of the lower portion of the cloak is attached, by sewing or in other suitable manner, the open pocket B, which will be of a convenient depth to receive and protect the bottom of the wearers skirts. This pocket is preferably formed of water-proof material and by preference, also, is extended around the entire lower portion of the cloak, and at its front free edges is provided with the buttons 1) and corresponding buttoirholes, a.

Between the thicknesses of the pocket B will be suitably fastened as, for example, between rows of stitches b the supports 0, one arm, 0, of each support being connected to the fold or side of the pocket next the cloak, and the arms 0 being connected to the inner or free fold or side of .the pocket between the thicknesses thereof. Any desired number of these supports may be employed, and any suitablematerial may be used in their construction. I prefer, however, to form the supports 0 of elastic or spring metal, possess ing not only sufficient rigidity to hold the inner or free fold of the pocket in vertical position, but also having sufficient elasticity to clasp and retain the lower portion of the skirts after they have been placed within the pocket.

' In Fig. 3 of the drawings the support 0 is shown as provided with a clasp, D, which serves to give increased tension or rigidity to the support for the purpose of better retaining the skirts within the pocket.

In the modified construction of support shown in Fig. 4. the two arms 0 and c are pro vided at their ends with the eyes c ,which enable the supports to be more firmly held in position within the pockets, and at the base of this modified form of support a turn or loop in the metal is made for the purpose of enabling the support to more securely hold the skirts when placed within the pocket.

It will be readily understood that the precise details of construction hereinafter set out may be varied widely without departing from the spirit of my invention.

. From the foregoing description of the parts the operation of my improved water-proof will be seen to be as follows: The wearer will ICO place the cloak over hcrshoulders and button the same in the usual manner, after which, with her arms inside the cloak, she will lifther skirts and place the bottoms thereof within the open pocket B. Vith the skirts thus placed within the pocket they will not only be lifted above the pavement, but, by the inner side of the pocket, will be protected from contact with the muddy shoes of the wearer.

It is obvious that when the skirts are set within the pocket the weight of the skirts is sustained by the cloak from the shoulders of the wearer.

I am aware that it has been heretofore proposed to provide a waterproof cloak with a pocket extending around the bottom and adapted to receive the edges of the dressskirt; but in such prior construction the inner side of the pocket was sustained by means of straps connected to a band around the waist of the wearer. I am also well aware that it has been heretofore proposed to construct a dress-protector in the form ot a circular bag adapted to envelop the lower part of the skirt, said bag being sustained by straps from a waistband, and being provided with a series of metal clasps to press its sides against the bottom of the skirt when placed therein. I am not aware, however, that prior to my present invention it has ever been proposed to provide an ordinary water-proof cloak with a pocket extending around its lower portion, theinner side of said pocket being provided with supports connected to and sustained entirely by the body of the cloak, so that the edges 01' the dress-skirts can be placed within the month ol the pocket without the necessity of lifting the skirts any considerable distance.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters 0 Patent, is

1. The combination, with a water-proof cloak and a pocket adapted to reeei ve t be lower portion ot'thc dress-skirt, ot' supports for the inner side of said pocket extending from the 5 top ot'said inner side downwardly and attached to and sustained by the body ofthe cloak, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a water-proof cloak having a pocket adapted to receivethc 0 lower portion 01' the dress-skirt, of supports for the inner side of said pocket, said SllpPOltS extending from the top of said inner side down wardly and being connected with the body of the cloak and being formed of sufficiently rigid 5 material to retain the pocket in vertical position when the dress-skirt is placed therein, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a water -prool' cloak having a pocket attached to the lower 60 portion of the cloak and adapted to receive the lower portion of the dress-skirt, ot' springmetal supports attached to the body of the cloak for sustaining theinnerside ot the pocket and clasping the bottom of the skirt, substan- 5 tially as described.

4. The combination, with a water -proot' cloak, of a pocket adapted to receive the bottom of the dress-skirt, said pocket; being at taehed at its bottom to the cloak, and metal 70 supports for the pocket connected to the cloak and extending to the top of the inner side of the pocket, substantially as described.

SARAH A. MENDEL.

Witnesses:

JAMEs H PEIRUE. GEO. P. FISHER, Jr. 

